*Beautiful gardens with some very unique, and endemic flora- some only found on the island or endangered. * Awesome birding here *Main path to the memorial is a gradual incline and on relatively gravel/ sand even terrain... off shoot walking paths to meander thru the gardens as well. * To get to the top of the memorial, there are a lot of steps to climb. Worth the view from on top. * You can jump on the garden to sky trail (near the memorial)... it is described as a moderate to strenuous hike and aptly so: some switchbacks, elevation gain, rocky terrain... but the views... oh the views are lovely. Of note you can also catch this trail elsewhere- but it all depends on you and the distance and time you have. * Operated by the Catalina Island Conservatory * To get here: you can either walk here from Avalon... but it's quite a ways. The public transit COAST is available but we found it impossible to secure a ride (didn't help that a cruise ship had come in that day), rent a golf cart for the day, or the best / hassle free option was to pay a small fee (about 13 bucks a person) at the Conservancy and they shuttle back and forth. The only draw back is you need to schedule your trip ahead of time and if you are a person who does not like itineraries when you travel, this may put a dent... but definitely worth a visit. *Restrooms are located at the entrance read more

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Definitely a place to visit when touring Avalon, Catalina Island. From the port, it's about a 15 minute ride, 40 for walking. We downloaded the Ride Circuit app and it's a $2 fee per ride, which you can't really beat! The place also does student discounts, which is a nice touch. Walking through the first part was nice. Reading information on the little cards about the plants and taking different routes. We actually got to see a tiny fox! It is uphill, nothing too crazy, just bring some water. The memorial at the top of the hill is worth your time. It is a climb up the stairs, so be prepared. Once you get to the top and oversee the garden and have a view of the port, you'll for sure gasp in surprise of the view. Pretty cool seeing a structure preserved! If you take the left path when you get to the memorial, you'll come across a little area called Little Fox Hollow. I'd recommend visiting and walking through. For little ones, but you can make it fun as an adult too! On the right path, there is a hiking trail about a mile long. A lot steeper than when you start from the entrance to the memorial. We didn't get fully to the top due to exhaustion. It gives a higher view than the memorial structure. Overall, I'd definitely come back when I visit Avalon, Catalina Island! read more

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We've been to Catalina Island multiple times and wanted to try something different. As we were walking from the port to the main part of town, we saw a gentleman standing by a Van and overheard him say he was headed to the botanical gardens. We asked him for a little more detail on the gardens and he stated they provided a free shuttle service with purchase of admission to the botanical gardens. A ticket was $13 and definitely well worth it. We took a short air-conditioned van ride to the entrance. We paid for our ticket. I would like to note they are a cash free business. We entered the gardens and watched a short video about the history and all of the plants on site. It was interesting to see how there were indigenous and non-indigenous plants in the garden. Due to Catalina's perfect environment plants from all over the world thrive. We enjoyed a lovely stroll through the garden and at the end of the garden we were met by the Wrigley Memorial. I enjoyed walking the many steps up to the top so that I could take in the beautiful view. Definitely a hidden gem! Even If you're just on the island for a few hours it's worth it. read more

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This is a nice botanical garden and memorial. We went on a very hot day so I felt like that it was more like a hike rather a stroll. There is elevation so please be aware and wear the right shoes. The plantings are mostly succulents and cacti. Not much shade or benches. I did find a bench but it was covered in bird poop. The memorial was beautiful so it is worth the walk up the hill. There is a gift shop with so really cool stuff. I bought a refrigerator magnet. I paid $12 for entrance fee. We rode a rented golf cart there so we could not stay long. I think there are a few kid friendly activities there too. The highlight is the Wrigley Memorial. It's a must visit if you come to Catalina Island. read more

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I haven't been here in years and it's just as great as I remember. Definitely worth taking a trip up when if visiting Catalina Island. The Catalina Island Conservancy group maintains this modest sized botanical garden and the Wrigley Memorial. If you gut a ticket for entry you can take their Jurassic Park type shuttle ride up to the gardens. I didn't know that so we hiked up and took the ride down. You can also rent a bike or golf cart and ride up. There are numerous trails to hike once up there and the beautiful Garden to Skyline hike is worth the effort. We didn't have time for it this trip which was a bummer, but it was a great visit nonetheless. The memorial reminds me of one of my favorite childhood movies- Labyrinth with David Bowie, and offers many neat opportunities for cool pictures. I hope to come back again and do the hike to the skyline where you get an epic view of the ocean. read more

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First time and it's a very small garden to explore. It will take you less than 15 minutes to explore it if you walk fast and not enjoy learning the small selection of plants. Theres a trail available on the right of the building. It's not that long and it's a good hike to see the other side of the island (open green land). If you have the cash to explore go for it and do the hike for it to be worth it. read more

Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden - Garden Building - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Avalon, California

Very cute and brief experience while on the island. It's slightly uphill but nothing challenging. I recommend bringing a few water bottles incase you get parched. There's not that much shade in the area. The botanical section here is very beautiful. Tons of cactus and tons of flowers. I bright my monocular. You may get to see some wildlife! I was lucky enough to see the small little fox. read more

Nice, small botanical garden that is easy to get to via ride from the Nature Conservancy. Some native plants and many other interesting ones, including lots of succulents. Most plants are well-marked. Also, a good place to spot birds but my Merlin app didn't help because of limited cell service. Easy to walk around, though uphill, which we liked. Wonderful views of the bay and coast. Great staff. Well worth it - - plus you are supporting the important work of the Conservancy! read more

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Plant lovers make a stop here! It's a small botanical garden but worth it! The memorial at the top has a beautiful view and the history is cool. The California native plants and the succulents are healthy and thriving. They have some water bottles and little gifts you can buy at the ticket booth. Very simple place and a lot of shuttles and circuit cars coming by, so if you need to get back to town just ask if you can get a ride back, probably $2 per person. The Garibaldi city bus no longer runs in Avalon so you'll have to take Circuit most likely or walk, I believe it's about 40 min one way. Enjoy my friends! read more

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One of the best and most affordable experiences we had on the island. The student discount made this an easy yes, and it turned out to be one of our favorite stops. The memorial and garden are quiet, beautifully maintained, and surrounded by shared trails where we even spotted some Catalina foxes. We had the memorial completely to ourselves for a while, which made the experience feel extra peaceful and special. The view from the top is stunning, with a full overlook of the city and ocean. The man working the front gate was very knowledgeable and kind. He had lived on the island for many years and had hiked the entire place. We had a really nice time talking with him before heading in. We also picked up some very cute pins, a patch, and a sticker which made great keepsakes. If you are looking for something relaxing, scenic, and budget friendly while still feeling memorable, this is it. Would absolutely recommend. read more

We hiked in from the back and got in that way, but honestly, I wouldn't pay to come here. It's over $10 (not exact, though I want to say I saw the entrance sign say $12 for adults). It's a nice area with a bunch of plants that have signs, but there's a road/walkway in the middle and it just doesn't have that fancy garden vibe. Lots of cactus and just kind of... okay. At the very end is a mausoleum for William Wrigley. He was buried there for a short time (climb the stairs!) but was relocated to the mainland in Glendale. That was the coolest part of the place. The area is grand, but he died in the 1930s and the place could use a little power washing. Pretty cool spot. You can keep to the right of the mausoleum and open the gate to hike up a dirt service road trail on the Trans Catalina Trail. read more

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Do you like walking uphill? I hope you like walking uphill, because this is how you walk uphill. The walk may be worth it because the end result is a very peaceful location that overlooks the harbor. You can't get that view anywhere else. Also, when you're done, there's more walking. read more

Wow. Truly the worst botanic garden I've ever been to. Terrible layout, sad plants, really a disservice to how beautiful the vegetation is on the island. Completely overpriced for a place that can take you 20 min to walk through. The only silver lining was knowing that the admission was going towards the conservancy which I want to support. Maybe they are waiting to plan until the deer have been eradicated to plant and make it nicer? It feels like an abandoned garden. I want to write this only to spur momentum to make it better bc it could be beautiful. read more

A peaceful and well-kept garden with beautiful views of Avalon. I enjoyed walking the paths, learning a bit of history, and taking in the scenery. It's a nice break from the busier parts of the island. read more

A fairly small botanic garden in Avalon. It's located a bit further from downtown so tourists would need a golf cart to get here. We visited on a cloudy day so the sun wasn't bothering us. Barely any shades here so it's better not to visit during the sunniest and warmest summer days. We walked around and took photos of the desert plants. Best part was a baby fox standing in the middle of the road. Foxes are native to Catalina island and they are protected species. Great to see wildlife thriving after so much rain during winter. We didn't climb up the memorial building but I think it's a good place for photo ops. Wear comfy shoes for the dirt roads and mild hike. Overall I enjoyed this little garden, it's a great place to visit if you love desert plants and some mild hiking! read more

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If you don't know what else to do in Avalon, I would recommend visiting. I thought the mausoleum was beautiful and had a nice view of the ocean. They had some videos to watch and information about the gardens etc. The garden was primarily different cacti which are cool, but it wasn't what we were expecting. It's not worth $15 for cactus and a mausoleum. I'm still glad that we saw another part of the island though. We took a taxi to the gardens which was our best option especially during the summer months. It's uphill, but a good walk up there. There was no phone service, but thankfully a taxi was already coming. read more

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While the history behind the gardens is interesting, the plants are in poor shape and aged. A very natural setting, peaceful and serene.

On a beautiful day, this place is a nice 1.5 mile (30 min) walk from the center of Avalon. For those who like a good ascent, you won't be disappointed. On a hot, sunny day, because there is NO shade along the route to the garden, it's better to catch a $2 bus ride runs every 15 minutes. The grounds are beautiful with well maintained cactus gardens and some unusual plants that are unique to the island. The memorial is a beautiful structure dedicated to William Wrigley Jr, the founder of the largest chewing gum company in the world. Aside from the beautiful grounds and structures, you can catch some striking views of Avalon Bay from this summit. read more

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Love this place. Fun to walk there. You got to see the campgrounds and the golf course and all sorts of stuff in town along the way.

As some others noted in their review, some plants had wire around them but a good majority did not. It is very leisurely and laid back. I paid online, which seemed to be the best because others noted their machines were not working and cell service was slim. read more

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When we arrived at the gate, we were told tickets can only be purchased online even though there is a person at the ticket booth and a card machine that appears to be no longer working. After spending almost $60 for a family of 4, no one bothered to scan our tickets. The gardens are horribly not cared for weeds and grasses are growing everywhere and most of the plants on display are wrapped in metal cages which makes the experience so unnatural. The wooden sign for the Wrigley Botanical Garden is in disrepair, there are roads rutted out that lead to the memorial entrance. We hiked up to the trail and that was a decent experience but I would not come back again. read more

We visited this past Thursday by taking the golf cart here. Not many people around, maybe because it's super hot weather. Lots of desert plants along the path up to the memorial. The memorial was an interesting sight to see. Nice cool breezes at the top. read more

Beautiful garden with many native plants. The Memorial is beautiful and provides a view to the ocean. It's a bit of a hike, we rented a golf cart to come see this place. read more

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Was pretty disappointed by this botanical garden. Everything was very overgrown and not kept up with well. The garden area was incredibly small. The highlight was the memorial building, but other than that, there is not much to see there. We did the gardens to sky hike, which was nice, but you shouldn't have to pay to do the hike. Costs $12 plus tax for adult entry, which was not worth it to me. read more

Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden - Memorial - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Avalon, California

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People that work there are terrible! They are only concerned about closing before the closing time very short and not polite. What a disappoint. read more

Beautiful, well-maintained, and quiet. Very peaceful. Easy walk to see everything. No hiking shoes needed. Great spot for the view and taking photos. Worth the visit! read more

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A gem here on Santa Catalina island. We made this a must do on our trip to the island, it is well with the 1/2 to one hour you will spend here. I sort out and back walk takes you thru 5 different areas that eventually leads you to the memorial tower/ monument. Take your time and read some of the signage. Be careful though, most things here will poke you. The occasional lizard will scamper by, and we were amazed at how the humming birds can navigate the cacti needles to get to the nectar in the flowers. We also saw a couple of deer. The view once you climb the steps of the memorial back down the canyon towards Avalon and the sea is beautiful. Well worth the entry fee and the time spent here. read more

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I was really hoping to see something as amazing as wild and crazy from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, after all, William Wrigley Jr was one rich AF American during his time. Both Wrigley and Wonka were uber wealthy right? It's still an impressive moment, sort of. A long curving stone staircase leads to a fairly tall arched tower with some colorful tiles, a fountain(not running during my visit; drought?), a forum, and...and..and...that's pretty much it. No big "WOW" factor. No outrageous William Wrigley Jr statue. No Wrigley Gum sculptures. No golden ticket. No 3 course dinner gum that turns your into a blueberry. No Oompa Loompas singing silly sonnets, though there were some bratty kids running around. Oh, and there's cactuses, lots and lots of different kinds of cactuses. $8, I'll probably won't return again. Perhaps there is something more awesome for Wrigley in his hometown of Chicago read more

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Worth checking out if you are spending some time at Avalon! The garden is beautiful with a great variety of plants. The Memorial further up is pretty neat too adds to the historical aspect of Avalon. You can hike to this place from the main street area. You'll pass by The Sandtrap which has a great Happy Hour from 2 to 7 pm! Drink and food specials! read more

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Don't visit Avalon without making a trip to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, a place that captures the very essence of Catalina Island. Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. was instrumental in developing Catalina and planning for its conservancy for future generations. Two years after his death, he was honored in 1934 with the opening of a memorial in his name. The impressive memorial was built using many local materials from the island. Wrigley's wife Ada started the garden in 1935 in the area near the memorial. The current garden spans almost 38 acres and has perhaps a couple hundred plants, many of them endemic to California islands (i.e. they're found only on California islands and nowhere else). Some plants here are so rare that they're on the Endangered Species list. The city of Avalon is pretty serene, and the memorial and garden even more so. When we visited the grounds on a weekday, we ran into only a few other people. Along the pathways in the garden are benches where you can rest and enjoy the natural surroundings. Admission is $8 for adults and less for seniors, children, veterans and students. Active military and their family get in free with ID. Another way to get in free is through the back entrance, which involves a 5-mile hike along the Trans-Catalina Trail (https://www.yelp.com/biz/trans-catalina-trail-santa-catalina-island). Either way, the memorial and garden is run by the Catalina Island Conservancy and they do good work, so consider donating to help keep this place and the island beautiful for those who come after us. read more

Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden - Prickly Pear - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Avalon, California

This place is gorgeous. Came here w hubby and our two kids. One of the kids got a little restless during the short hike around the property, but they really enjoyed getting to check out the tower and it's beautiful staircases. Being a fan of architecture and construction, I had a blast reading and learning about the structure. The marble and concrete work are a spectacle in themselves. Loved checking out all the plants in the garden. Some of the cacti were just absolutely jaw dropping due to their size and the way they are maturing into giant tree things. This was a highlight of our trip and a must see for visitors. read more

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Good to see endemic plants; some are fenced off to protect them from deer. If you walk uphill from Avalon harbor, there is a lot of noise from the golf carts driving by, and it can be hot. You might get a ride or take a Garibaldi bus to the front gate, then walk back. I had technical issues paying with a credit card, so I paid cash. Once you enter the gates, the garden is in a moderately steep narrow valley, leading to the Wrigley Memorial at the top. We had no cellphone signal in the garden. read more

Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden - Wrigley Botanic Garden looking to the mainland - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Avalon, California

Really cool place to check out. Interesting plants but an even cooler view of the island and ocean from the top. Entry is $10, discounts to military and family. You can either bring your golf cart up here, or hike up from the beach. I think walking up here is totally worth it, you get amazing views throughout the way. read more

Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Avalon, California

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1.5 mile walk/hike/trek from Original Jack's Country Kitchen. (other options are renting a golf cart). Very beautiful and scenic walk. It feels so freeing to be surrounded by greenery. There wasn't many people which made it very quiet so you can hear the birds chirping and I even spotted a couple of deers. After entering the botanical garden, you will see a little sitting area with maps and information about the botanical garden itself. Very informative. Walking through all the pretty trees, flowers, succulents, you will find yourself making your way up a couple...maybe like 6 flights of stairs. Don't be startled (it's really not that bad) and TOTALLY worth the hike up. You get a GORGEOUS view of the whole entire place. Note to self, and everyone walking from downtown area to here....wear shoes. I did it in flip flops and they weren't the most comfortable. But def worth it! read more

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Nice little 10-20 minute walk to the top of Wrigley Memorial. Entrance fee free for Veterans.

Charming place. The garden itself isn't much but the memorial is lovely. Plenty of Spanish tiles that you see around the island. It was made more charming by the fact that a couple asked me to take a photo of them and then the guy proposed! That made it much more magical. I wish them all the best. COVID UPDATE: The pay station (normally $8) isn't manned. There's a dropbox for your cash, operating based on the honor system. GETTING THERE: Pretty far from the water but technically you can trek it. I definitely wouldn't recommend walking in hot weather. You'll have to climb stairs to get to the memorial also. I was huffing and puffing. We rented golf carts although it wasn't exactly cheap. There's a parking lot. read more

I would recommend visiting the botanical garden and Wrigley memorial. We decided to hike up to the Memorial. It was about a 2 1/2 mile hike from our hotel. There are different trees and cactus from around the world. The monument itself is beautifully done. There are different trails you can hike along. You could spend a half day or a whole day there if you wanted. It does cost to get in and there are bathrooms if needed. read more

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We took the mostly uphill 1.5 mile trek from our hotel to the main entrance and paid the $8 each admission. We went straight to the William M Wrigley Jr. (1861 - 1932) monument (founder of Wrigley's chewing gum company and the family that owned most all of Catalina Island since 1919, to the 1970s when they donated most of it to the Catalina Conservancy). It's an interesting monument and offers some views towards Avalon. Wrigley's body was once interred in the mausoleum at the top but was moved elsewhere for security reasons during WW II. Its small water pool was empty but was still worth the walk up the steps for a better look. The monument is constructed from entirely Catalina Island stones with mosaic tile also made on the island, and put together with west coast gray and east coast white cement that was brought in by the ton for its construction. An endemic fix had defecated on the stone wall by the empty pool, and learned later that this marked its living quarters and warned other animals away. Then back down the steps and 1.2 miles up to the Sky Summit view which offers a tranquil ocean view to the other (west) side of the island. Along the way up the trail are a few vantage points to look down to Avalon and east to Long Beach. It's not an overly difficult hike although almost entirely uphill. Once at the summit it's 1.2 miles downhill back to the botanical gardens which we passed through to view different trees, shrubs and cacti that are native to Catalina Island and parts of the west coast world including Mexico and the Canary Islands. Of interest were plants like the Elephant foot plant, Catalina Island Mahogany shrub (something between a tree and a shrub actually), Dragon tree and numerous berry shrubs. Also saw a Catalina cherry tree - no fruit. Many cacti of course and different kinds of sage, among other plants. Worth the trek and the hike. There is a roundabout side entrance that avoids the admission fee but we just took the direct route in. read more

Lovely 1.5-ish mile stroll from the beach to the memorial (recommend going in the morning around 8am when it's cool and the sun isn't too intense!). $8 admission (reasonably priced). You get to walk thru the cactus and other desert-ish plants on the way up to the memorial. The memorial itself is beautiful and very spanish looking. Would be a gorgeous place for a destination wedding ceremony! The groundskeeper said they do weddings up there under normal (non COIVD time). if you are feeling even more adventurous, you can go up to the TOP of the mountain (an additional 1.2 miles each way). We did not end up doing that due to time, but if we had had more time we would have done it. read more

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Visited here on a Sunday afternoon and was surprised by how beautiful and serene this place was. It was a very nice relaxing stroll and experience. read more

Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Avalon, California